Targets planned for renewable energy bids

Jim Mather has said the Scottish government is considering new measures to speed up applications for renewable energy developments.

Scotland's energy minister told the Green Energy Awards on Wednesday that the government was processing applications without "unnecessary delay" but said that consent procedures needed to be improved.

The minister outlined plans to introduce a nine-month target for deciding on applications in cases where there is no public inquiry.

"Our commitment to renewable energy and sustainable economic growth is beyond question," he said.

Mather pointed to Scotland's renewable electricity target to meet 50 per cent of demand by 2020 and 31 per cent by 2011.

"These targets send a clear signal about the scale of our renewables ambitions," he added.

"The message is we need more renewables but not at any price - the best applications are those that take care to resolve environmental and planning concerns in advance."